The Vampire's Vision

by Shawn Wiseman

  "Well, what now?" Olivia asked outside the restaurant.

  "We either have to find James, or tell Raymond, Damien, and the rest about the attack and prepare at the house."

  Olivia had her lips pursed in a pensive look. "Maybe we should split up. You see what you can find out about James, and I go talk with Damien and the others."

  Kara frowned. "I get what you're trying to do, but I don't need protection from Damien and the other vampires. I've had to deal with who I am for my whole life, and there's nothing they can say that they haven't said already."

  Olivia had a sad look on her face. "Alright, as long as you're sure."

  "I'm sure. It's like you've always said, I'm not weak. I can take whatever they throw at me. Let's go prepare for the attack with them."

  As Kara and Olivia travelled to the vampire house they tried to come up with the best way to explain what they’d found out. They concluded that they would try the explanation they used on Vasha again, as the other vampires wouldn't be as perceptive as she was.

  After arriving at the house, Olivia went up and knocked on the door. After a moment, Damien answered. When he opened the door and noticed Olivia his eyes lit up and his face softened into a smile, until he noticed Kara at her side.

  Damien ignored Kara. "Olivia, you're alright." Damien stepped forward, but Olivia put her hand out to stop his approach.

  "Did you get my text?"

  Damien stepped back, flustered. "Uhh, yes. Why should we be on watch? Did something happen?" he asked, glancing from Kara to Olivia. "Kara didn't tell me what happened to you the other day. Does it have something to do with that?"

  "Don't worry about that. Now, be a good boy and gather your housemates. They all need to hear this."

  He nodded. "Right. I'll be back in a bit."

  He ran up a set of stairs towards the rooms on the second floor. The house had six people living there, including Raymond and him. They were all vampires like Kara and Olivia, and they’d all known each other for years.

  Kara and Olivia entered the main hall and waited for Damien to return with the others. After a few minutes he came back with Raymond and the other roommates. They were questioning each other about what was going on, and giving Kara angry glances.

  "Alright, what was it you found out?" Damien asked.

  "We found out of a possible attack that's going to happen. A psychic gave your address to another psychic for an unknown reason. We think that they want them to attack you, maybe even kill you all."

  Damien and the other vampires were in disbelief. There hadn't been a concentrated attack on vampires in years.

  "Really?" was all Damien could spit out.

  "Yes, really," Olivia replied.

  "How many are coming to attack?" Raymond asked.

  "We don't know, but we should prepare for the worst. We need to be ready for an attack at any minute. If there's a lot of them, they could combine their powers and… well… we'd be fucked. Luckily, we have Kara to back us up."

  Damien and the other vampires stared at Kara, her hoodie drawn and hands in her pockets. Damien shook his head. "You can stay, Olivia, but… Kara has to leave."

  Olivia sighed. "We don't have time for your bullshit, Damien. Our ancestors only survived against psychics by hiding, so if we're going to fight we need to use their power against them."

  Damien's attempt at civility in front of Olivia quickly faded. "Tch, I'd rather die," he spat, staring daggers at Kara. "Just because you look like us doesn't make you one of us."

  "Shut the fuck up, Damien!" Olivia yelled. Damien was about to say something else, but she clocked him in the face, sending him sprawling on the floor. She turned and pulled Kara out of the house. "Shows what we get for trying to help them. They deserve what's coming to them." She turned around and faced the house while walking backwards. "Serves you right, assholes!" she screamed before turning back around. "I can't believe you dated that guy. And to think he's after me now, the nerve."

  Kara pulled away from Olivia when they reached the sidewalk. "We can't just abandon them, they're our friends," she said while wiping her eyes.

  "They were our friends. That ship sailed a long time ago, Kara."

  The door of the house opened and Raymond came running out. He had on a thick jacket and a laptop bag slung over his shoulder.

  "Raymond, go back to the house," Olivia commanded.

  "No, I want to help."

  "You'll be more help in the house with the others if that's what you want to do. As for us, we're done. If you want to save yourself from getting killed, then feel free to tag along."

  "Liv, we're helping them," Kara said with force behind her words. "I don't want them to die."

  Olivia stared at Kara for a moment before turning away with a sigh. "Then what do you propose we do? If we wanted to fight, the only way to do it would be with their help," she said, pointing to the house.

  "There's only one thing we can do right now. We have to stop the attack before it happens."

  7. TEN MINDS ARE BETTER THAN ONE